Gophers Fall to No. 7 Michigan in Not-Nice Game, 69-60
February 21, 2019

Coming off a solid win against Indiana, Minnesota was ready for a home rematch with seventh-ranked Michigan after a loss at the buzzer in Ann Arbor a month ago. However, the Gophers outside shooting was colder than the Minneapolis weather, and the Wolverines upped their conference record to 14-3 (24-3 overall) with a 69-60 win.

Seven-one junior center Jon Teske scored 17 points—9 of them on three three-pointers in the second half—grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots. His coach, John Beilein, said he affected several other shots, including several on Minnesota big-man Jordan Murphy.

The Gophers held their only lead at 4-2 and only once after that tied the game, 6-6. Jordan Poole, who lead all scorers with 22 points, hit a three-pointer to put Michigan ahead to stay.

Neither team shot well in the first half, although the Wolverines were able to make 5 of 14 three-pointers in opening up a 28-18 lead. Minnesota was 8 for 36 from the field, 0 for 5 beyond the arc. Amir Coffey was the worst, missing all 10 of his shots, including 3 three-pointers.

Center Daniel Oturu kept the Gophers as close as they were in the first half, despite needing medical attention midway through the period after pulling down a rebound. He walked down the stairs to the locker room, with 4 points and 6 rebounds at the time. He came back a minute-and-a-half later and ended the half with 10 points and 10 rebounds, reaching double figures in both categories with a putback at the buzzer. Murphy also had 10 rebounds in the first half, 5 of them offensive.

Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field in the second half, but the Wolverines got the jump coming out of intermission. Teske’s three-pointer made the score 40-22 and caused Minnesota coach Richard Pitino to call a time out with 15:51 left.

Michigan’s lead reached 21 at 50-29 and was at 20 when the Gophers went on a brief run. First, Murphy banged his way into the paint and banked in a basket. Then Gabe Kalscheur hit the Gophers first (and only) three-pointer. Dupree McBrayer then stole the ball from Isaiah Livers and cruised in for a dunk, bringing a time out from Michigan.

Minnesota shaved the lead a little more, to 11, before Teske answered with a pair of 3-pointers. The Gophers were able to get their deficit to single digits only in the final five seconds.

Though troubled by fouls—he picked up his third early in the second half—Murphy finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Oturu also had 18 points for the game, along with 12 rebounds.

Michigan’s Zavier Simpson had 12 assists.

“We lost confidence in our outside shooting,” said Pitino. “We became easy to guard because they know we weren’t going to shoot.” The coach added, “We let our offense affect everything else.”

Beilein praised his big man, Teske, for his defense. “It’s huge what he does for us—and not fouling.”

Minnesota is now 7-9 in the Big Ten (17-10 overall), but Pitino expressed optimism as the Gophers go on the road to Rutgers and Northwestern. “We’re excited for Rutgers,” he said, noting, “We have four more games and the conference tournament.” Minnesota’s last home game will be against Purdue, and it will finish the regular season at Maryland. The latter two teams are ranked in the top 25 in the country, and the Gophers may need at least one upset, or a strong run in the Big Ten tournament, if they are to make the NCAA tournament.

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